Carpet-stretcher



H. SOMMERFELD.

(No Model.)

CARPET STREIGHER.

No. 564,317. Patented July 21, 1896.

rzveiztorx m: mums vnzns no. PNOYOLITHO WASHINGTON D c .UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HEINRICH SOMMERFELD, OF CANTON, KANSAS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO B. S. EBEL, OF HILLSBOROUGH, KANSAS.

CARPET-STRETCHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 564,317, dated July 21, 1896. Application filed March 28, 1896. Serial No. 585,269. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I,HEINRICH SOMMERFELD, of Canton, McPherson county, Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Carpet-Stretchers, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof.

My invention relates to carpet-stretchers; and it consists in certain novel and peculiar features of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter described and claimed, the object of the invention being to produce a carpet-stretcher which is adjustable to various lengths of carpet or sized rooms, which is positive and reliable in operation, and which is exceedingly simple, strong, durable, and inexpensive of manufacture.

A further object is to produce a device of this character which automatically locks the carpet at any desired point to which it is stretched, to enable the operator to leave it and secure the carpet in such stretched condition, and, finally, to produce an article of this character which may be folded into a comparatively compact bundle and is there fore conveniently portable.

Referring to the drawings which illustrate the invention, Figure 1 represents a perspective view of my improved carpet-stretcher in operative position. Fig. 2 represents a vertical section of the same on an enlarged scale. Fig. 3 represents, also on an enlarged scale, a detail perspective of part of the automaticlocking brace-bar.

In the said drawings, 1 designates a bar, which is provided with a longitudinal slot 2 and is bifurcated at its front end, as shown at 8, and mounted pivotally upon a bolt at at said bifurcated end is a lever 5, which in turn is bifurcated at its lower end and pivotally connected, as at 6, to the longitudinally-extending bar 7. to form the upward extension 8, which eX- tends through the slot 2 and is provided with a supporting or guide pin 9,which bears against the under side of the bar 1. Said bar forward of its pivot is provided with a series of notches 8, having beveled and abrupt shoulders or surfaces, and is riveted or otherwise suitably Said bar at its rear end is bent secured at its front end to the transverselyextending plate 9, provided with a series of depending teeth or prongs 10 for en gagement with the carpet. The brace-bar 11 is pivotally connected, as at 12, to the lever 5, below its pivotal point of connection with the bar 2,

and is bifurcated at its lower end, so as to form the vertical arms 13 to embrace snugly the opposite sides of the bar 7, and the tooth 14 to engage one or another of the notches S in said bar.

The structure thus far described for a very short carpet or rug is sufficiently long to stretch the same by simply placing the heel or rear end of the bar 1 against any unyielding support, such as the base-board of the room, and arrange the operating-bars and lever in position, as shown in the drawings, and then grasp the upper end of the lever and move it in the direction indicated by the ar row, Fig. 1, which obviously advances the bar 7 and consequently causes the stretching of the carpet owing to the fact that the pronged plate 10 is in engagement with the same this engagement being automatic owing to the weight of the parts, or it may be made more reliable by placing ones foot or hand upon the said plate. In this operation it is obvious that the gravity-bar 11 automatically engages each notch as it is successively presented and thereby prevents the carpet again shrinking to its previous length when the handle 5 is released. For longer carpets, however, it is necessary to employ one or more additional bars; These bars 15, however, need not be provided with longitudinal slots, but are preferably provided each, like the bar 1, with a series of holes 16 near each end, which bars, after being arranged with the requisite holes in alinement, are pivotally connected together in the manner shown by bolts, and so secured by the nuts 17, either in the form ofwingnuts or those of the usual rectangular or hexagonal configuration.

Thus it will be seen that the carpet-stretcher may be shortened or lengthened without removing any of the bars 15, or such adjustment may be made by removing one of the said bars or by annexing another. When the device is to be used, the rearmost one bears against the base-board of the room in the manner previously explained, and the operative parts are manipulated as above described.

Then the device is not in use, said bars maybe folded one upon another and the upward extension 8 of the bar 7 disconnected from the slot 2, in order that the stretcher may be folded to a more compact form.

Thus it will be seen that I have produced an exceedingly simple, cheap, durable, and inexpensive carpet-stretcher, which will be found positive and reliable in action, and it is obvious of course that slight changes in the form, proportion, or arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of my invention or sacrificing any of the advantages of the same.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A carpet-stretcher, comprising a slotted bar, a lever pivoted to the same, a bar pivotally connected to said lever and provided at its rear end with an upward extension engaging said slot, and with a longitudinal series of notches, a pronged plate secured to said bar engaging the carpet, a brace-bar pivoted to said lever and provided at its lower end with a tooth to engage one or another of said notches and with vertical arms to embrace the opposite sides of said notched bar to prevent the accidental disconnection of said tooth therewith, substantially as described.

2. A carpet-stretcher, comprising a slotted bar, a lever pivoted to the same, a bar pivotally connected to said lever and provided at its rear end with an upward extension engaging said slot, and a laterally-projecting pin 7 bearing against the under side of said bar,

and with a longitudinal series of notches, a

pronged plate secured to said bar engaging the carpet, a brace-bar pivoted to said lever and provided at its lower end with a tooth to engage one or another of said notches and with vertical arms to embrace the opposite sides of said notched bar to prevent the accidental disconnection of said tooth therewith, substantially as described.

3. A carpet-stretcher, comprising a slotted bar, a lever pivoted to its front end, a bar pivoted to the lower end of said lever and provided with an upward extension engaging said slot, and with a longitudinal series of notches, a pronged plate secured to the front end of said bar, a brace-bar pivoted to said lever and engaging one or another of said notches, and an extension-bar pivotally connected to the rear end of said first-named bar, substantially as described.

4:. A carpet-stretcher, comprising a slotted bar, a lever pivoted to its front end, a bar pivoted to the lower end of said lever and provided with an upward extension engaging said slot, and with a longitudinal series of notches, a bifurcated plate secured to the front end of said bar, a brace-bar pivoted to said lever and engaging one or another of said notches, and extension-bars, pivotally connected together and to the first-named bar, and provided with longitudinal series of openings, whereby the carpet-stretcher may be lengthened or shortened, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HEINRICH SOMMERFELD.

\Vitnesses:

J NO. S. BRUBAKER, (.1. J. TURPIN. 

